Chapter 208

With only an hour to spare before he had to leave, Nick didn’t have much time to do anything more than rush home and pack his bag.Technically, this “mission” wasn’t supposed to last more than a week. He would be accompanying the fastest horse rider in the local militia, if Darien was to be believed.

Without the need to walk, they could likely reach Oakenhallow, the nearest town and home of Sir Poules, in just a couple of days. Honeyton was just a day and a half away from there.

The prospect of being forced to interact with at least one recalcitrant knight wasn’t exactly appealing, but Nick decided to make the best of the situation.

Grabbing his potions kit, still completely unused thanks to Rhea’s constant brewing while they were on the go, he hesitated for a moment before taking out some coins as well.

“Meow?” Talbot sleepily lifted his head.

“I’m only leaving for a few days. Dad needs my help, but hopefully, I’ll be back soon. I still have some things I need to do here, and of course, I wouldn’t leave without saying goodbye properly,” he answered, and the cat flopped back down, satisfied.

Even though he had been gaining more power, Talbot had also become somewhat of a lazy glutton. Having free rein over the local spirits and being constantly fed choice cuts from those around him had its consequences.

Once he had secured both his coin pouch inside his cloak and his backpack, Nick jumped out of the window, rushing back to the Town Hall.

He could have taken the streets, but the whole town was buzzing with the events of that morning. Word was still spreading about House Crowley’s elevation to Barons, but he suspected everyone would know by the time lunch came around.

Gossip in a small town had no respect for the laws of physics. It spread faster than was reasonable.

To avoid getting bogged down by the crowds, or worse, being recognized and stopped by every old fogey wanting to shake his hand, Nick took to the rooftops, cutting the runtime by half.

He didn’t often do this, as the guards didn’t appreciate all the noise and property damage complaints, but he felt justified in this instance since it was an emergency.

He could have taken to the skies, but he wanted to stay fresh for the coming run, and flying still took a lot out of him.

Upon his arrival, guards had blocked off an alley behind the Town Hall, where several men awaited on horseback. He noticed that one horse was without a rider and realized that it was meant for him.

However, there was one tiny problem: he had never ridden a horse.

Not that he thought it would be that difficult, given his enhanced physique. Even as a magical class, Nick’s body was superhuman by Earth’s standards. The balance and core strength required for horseback riding were not an obstacle for him.

Still, looking at the beautiful white frilly that had been reserved for him, he hesitated for a moment. Just because he technically could, it didn’t mean it would be a good idea to make his first attempt a cross-province run at full speed for several days.

“I’m here!” He called toward Darien, who was handing out official-looking scrolls to each rider.

The lieutenant grunted in acknowledgement and gestured toward a man whom Nick imagined must be the one he would accompany.

He was an older soldier with a full gray mustache and a balding head. told him that he felt neutral about the whole thing, possibly viewing it as a duty to fulfill rather than as a chore or an honor.

He didn’t even change at Nick’s approach, merely nodding in greeting and gesturing toward the frilly. “This here’s Beth, she’s a solid horse, and can run for days with little water or feed. Treat her with respect, and she will get you anywhere. M’lord.” He added at the end, probably realizing that the circumstances meant he had to be more respectful, even to a kid.

Nick didn’t take it to heart. He doubted he’d get used to being called with such respect anytime soon. Or that he would even want to.

Stolen story; please report.

“She looks like a fine one,” he said in reply, moving closer to the horse. He approached slowly, lifting a hand to let her sniff it.

Beth did so with a sense of amusement wafting off her, as if she were humoring him.

Those also felt dangerous in a way that Beth, despite her pedigree, simply didn’t. If he had to put it in numbers, he’d say that the warhorses were about level fifty, while the frilly was around twenty.

Still quite accomplished, considering that there had been no war for her to participate in, but nowhere close to the sheer power they had exuded.

Once she finished her inspection, Beth nudged her nose against his hand, acceptance coloring her in his vision. He patted her on the flank, then moved his hand up to scratch behind her ears when he noticed she liked it.

“I think we’ll be fine,” he murmured, earning a snort of agreement.

Nick then turned around, sensing his parents emerge from the back door of the hall. They quickly approached him, holding two scrolls tied with a crimson tassel.

“Ready?” Eugene asked, passing the scrolls over.

Nick took them and slipped them into his cloak. His backpack had enough space, but he didn’t want to risk anything getting to them. “Yeah, I wasn’t even done unpacking from the last adventure, so it was quick.”

Elena shook her head with a smile and hugged him tightly. “We don’t expect they’ll give you any actual trouble, but this is still the untamed frontier, so you might encounter monsters on the way. Be careful, even if you think you can handle them. And remember, your safety is the top priority.”

Nick hummed in agreement. Monsters weren’t what he was concerned about.

“If Sir Quack drags his feet, you do not need to take his shit. You are the son of a Baron now, well above him in the social hierarchy. You are only there to show respect, but that doesn’t mean he can get away with treating you with anything but the utmost courtesy,” Eugene said instead, cutting to the heart of the issue.

He held Nick’s gaze for a moment, willing him to understand.

After a moment, Nick nodded.

His father would be quite busy in the coming months, consolidating his control over their new land and, more importantly, assisting with the efforts in the north.

That was the reason he was promoted, after all. He would not forget it. But that didn’t mean any form of insubordination would be tolerated.

And Nick had proven himself to be fully capable of handling himself, even when confronted with terrible odds.

There wasn’t much more to say after that, so he hugged his parents one more time and returned to Beth’s side.

The frilly gave him a side-eye, as if asking what he was waiting for, and Nick sighed, already feeling fond.

With a hop that had more than a little added to it, he easily cleared the height and gently sat on her back. She gave a start, evidently not having expected him to be so smooth with it, but didn’t hesitate when he lightly kicked her sides and began plodding out of the alley.

The mustachioed soldier followed him silently, merely inclining his head in respect to Eugene and Elena.

As expected, the crowds had become quite lively in the meantime, making it a struggle to move through them. However, everyone was used to making space for the militia as they passed, and being on horseback only made that easier.

They took only a few minutes to clear out of the busiest part of Floria, and finally emerged into the southern fields.

“So, what’s your name?” Nick asked, looking back at his unlikely companion. He didn’t exactly think they would become friends, but it would be too strange not to try to strike up a conversation.

“I am Homer, m’lord. I have been serving in the militia since the time of your grandfather, and gods willing, I will die serving.” Was the answer, and Nick felt his eyebrows raise.

There was a great deal of pride in the man, even if his tone of voice didn’t reflect it. “Alright, Homer. I’m Nick. How fast do you think we can get to Oakenhallow?”

For the first time, he received a smile. “Fast,” the soldier said, before kicking the sides of his horse, which didn’t miss a beat and went from gentle plodding to full-on gallop in an instant. Beth seemed to take that as her cue, because she neighed happily and threw herself forward, racing after them.

Once Nick regained his balance and summoned a around himself, crafted specifically not to hinder Beth but also to prevent him from being thrown off by her wild dash, he readjusted his timeline.

Though not particularly powerful in battle, Beth and the other unnamed horse were incredibly fast. So fast, in fact, that Nick almost thought he’d gone back in time and was riding a motorcycle.

While humans had classes that spread their gains to accommodate their paths, horses were bred solely for endurance and speed.

That meant even a level twenty horse could run several times faster than Nick. He wouldn’t have any trouble keeping up if he used his magic, but that would drain him if he had to run for days.

He didn’t exactly expect to have to fight as soon as he arrived, but it was better not to show up completely exhausted. Riding a horse was a smart solution for that.

It also allowed him to concentrate on their surroundings. With Homer guiding them and Beth managing the rest, unfurled across the grassland, searching for anything that could pose a danger.

Surprisingly, there were several monsters even this close to Floria. None of them would have posed a danger to a mediocre adventurer, but if a child got lost playing in the fields, they would need to be very lucky to escape.

Nick snuffed them out with a mere thought. For such weak creatures, a single charged with anger and contempt was enough to overwhelm their bodies, allowing him to snap their necks and end it before they even realized the threat they faced.

CONGRATULATIONS!

You have defeated x 2

You have defeated x4

You have defeated x 15

+12.200 Exp

“Was that a monster?” He heard Homer shout from ahead, looking at the spot where a mole had managed to shoot out a stone before its death.

“I took care of it,” he replied calmly, letting the winds carry his words to the man’s ear.

That seemed to startle the soldier, and Nick had to hold back a smile. Maybe this whole situation wouldn’t be so dull after all.

Occasionally, he seized the opportunity to rid the world of the local monsters, thereby ensuring that the road through his family’s fief would be safe, but nothing genuinely dangerous appeared.

Another cluster of monsters entered range only an hour later, this time intentionally moving toward them.

Nick had almost forgotten about them. It had been a while since something so weak had sought him out, after all. But the flock of Sparrow-Hawks must have felt they had what it took to face him.

With a grin, he decided this was a great chance to practice his lightning magic. danced around his fingers, and soon, the grassland echoed with thunder.